Strawberry plant called Anaheim

ABSTRACT

`Anaheim` is a short-day (June-bearing) cultivar similar to `Chandler` (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,262), with similar total productivity and somewhat later fruiting, exceptional fruit appearance quality (very symmetrically conic fruit), firmer fruit, and is a larger and more vigorous plant.

DESCRIPTION

This invention relates to a new and distinctive short-day type cultivardesignated as `Anaheim`, which resulted from a cross performed in 1988between the cultivar `Irvine`(U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,172) and advancedselection Cal 85.92-602.

`Anaheim` was first fruited at the University of California South coastResearch and Extension Center, near Irvine, Calif. in 1989, where it wasselected, originally designated Cal 88.66-610, and propagated asexuallyby runners. Asexual propagules from this original source have beentested at the South Coast Research and Extension Center, the WatsonvilleStrawberry Research Facility, and to a limited extend in grower fieldsstarting in 1990.

FIG. 1 shows the general flowering and fruiting characteristics of theplant;

FIG. 2 shows a typical mature leaf during late spring; and

FIG. 3 shows representative mid-season fruit.

`Anaheim` is typical of short-day types and produces fruit over anextended period when treated appropriately in arid, subtropicalclimates. `Anaheim` differs from `Irvine` primarily in that `Irvine` isa day-neutral type and not a short-day type. Also `Irvine` hasessentially no photoperiodic flowering response and is more difficult togrow by comparison with `Anaheim.` The production pattern for `Anaheim`,is similar to that for `Chandler` (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,262), althoughits production initiates earlier and persists somewhat later in theseason in cool mediterranean climates. `Anaheim` will be of specialinterest for winter plantings, where `Chandler` has been successful, andin summer plantings where `Pajaro` (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 4,538) has beensuccessful. Because of its late-season production, `Anaheim`, is likelyto be adapted to production objectives in central California.

Plants and foliage: Fruiting plants of `Anaheim` are larger, more erect,and more vigorous than plants of `Chandler`, and are generally similarin form to plants of `Oso Grande` (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,578). `Anaheim`forms branch crowns in greater quantity than `Chandler` with similar orgreater branching than `Oso Grande`. When propagated in the nursery,`Anaheim` has similar or greater runner production capacity comparedwith `Chandler`. Comparative statistics for foliar characters, includingleaf color, near mid-season are given for the three cultivars in Table1, with visual comparisons of leaf color to the Munsell color scale(Nickerson Color Fan) given in Table 5. Leaf color is distinctly lighteron the underside for `Anaheim`; the differential is larger than for`Chandler` and similar to that for `Oso Grande`. Individual leaflets for`Anaheim` are larger and somewhat more elongated than for `Chandler`,and are less rounded than for `Oso Grande`. Leaves (including petioles)are longer and much broader than for `Chandler`. Petioles are thickerand more stiff than those of `Chandler` and are similar to those of `OsoGrande`. Paired stipules, borne in a median position on the petiole,appear as small, stalked, ovate to heart-shaped structures on mostleaves for `Anaheim` and the comparison cultivars. Stipule size variesgreatly both within and among individual plants for `Anaheim`, and oneor both stipules may be absent or may abscise as the leaf matures. Leafand petiole pubescence characters for `Anaheim` are similar to those for`Oso Grande`, except that tomentum on leaves are substantially lessdense. Also, leaves for `Anaheim` are darker than `Chandler` and similarin color to, but slightly darker than, those of `Oso Grande`. Visualcomparisons of fruit color according to the Munsell color scale(Nickerson Color Fan) are given in Table 5. `Anaheim` has flat(occasionally concave) leaves, which are easily distinguished from thoseof `Chandler`, and are similar in convexity to leaves of `Oso Grande`.

Isozymes in leaf extracts: `Anaheim` has been classified for threeisozyme systems using starch gel electrophoresis (Table 2):Phosophoglucoisomerase (PGI), Leucine Aminopeptidase (LAP), andPhosphoglucomutase (PGM). It is distinguishable from all other short-daycultivars released to date except `Oso Grande`. For electrophoreticprocedures see: J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 106:684-687.

                  TABLE 1                                                         ______________________________________                                        Foliar characteristics for                                                    `Anaheim`, `Chandler`, and `Oso Grande`.                                                Cultivar                                                            Foliar Character                                                                          `Anaheim`  `Chandler` `Oso Grande`                                ______________________________________                                        Mid-tier leaflet                                                              Length (mm)                                                                   mean        98.6       82.4       77.2                                        range       88-107     78-94      75-80                                       Width (mm)                                                                    mean        88.2       71.4       67.6                                        range       77-101     63-88      62-71                                       Mid-tier leaf                                                                 Length (mm)                                                                   mean        238.6      244.2      191.6                                       range       192-262    218-262    170-200                                     Width (mm)                                                                    mean        174.4      148.0      137.2                                       range       155-195    132-158    130-149                                     Leaf color                                                                    (CIELAB)*                                                                     L*                                                                            mean        29.5       31.4       31.9                                        range       28.7-32.7  27.1-33.3  29.9-33.0                                   a*                                                                            mean        -6.8       -8.0       -5.3                                        range       -5.3--8.4  -5.2--8.2  -4.2--8.3                                   b*                                                                            mean        15.0       16.0       15.5                                        range       11.8-19.9  12.9-21.4  12.5-20.6                                   # leaflets/leaf                                                                           3          3          3                                           Leaf convexity                                                                            flat/slight                                                                              concave    concave                                                 concave                                                           Serrations                                                                    number      moderate/  many       moderate                                    shape       many       semi-pointed                                                                             semi-round                                              semi-round                                                        Leaf pubescence                                                                           sparse     moderate/  moderate/                                                          sparse     heavy                                       Petiole pubescence                                                            density     heavy      heavy      heavy                                       direction   perpendicular                                                                            acropetal  perpendicular                               ______________________________________                                         *CIELAB is the abbreviation of the international color system known as        "Commission Internationale De L'Eclairage" 1978. Recommendations on           uniform color spaces -- color difference equations, psychometric color        terms, Supplement No. 2 to CIE Publication No. 15. PARIS.                

Disease and pest reaction: `Anaheim` is moderately resistant to commonleaf spot (Ramularia tulasnei) and powdery mildew (Sphaerothecamacularis). When treated properly, it has equal or greater tolerance totwo-spotted spidermites (Tetranychus urtacea) than `Chandler`. `Anaheim`is tolerant to strawberry viruses encountered in California.

                  TABLE 2                                                         ______________________________________                                        Isozyme phenotypes for `Anaheim`, `Chandler`, and `Oso Grande`.               Cultivar                                                                      Locus   `Anaheim`    `Chandler`                                                                              `Oso Grande`                                   ______________________________________                                        PGI     A2           A1        A2                                             LAP     B3           B3        B3                                             PGM     C2           C1        C2                                             ______________________________________                                    

Flowering, fruiting, fruit, and production characteristics: Comparativestatistics for flower and fruit characters, including fruit color, nearmid-season are given for `Anaheim`, `Chandler` and `Oso Grande` in Table3. The primary flowers for `Anaheim` are slightly smaller than those of`Chandler` and similar in size to those of `Oso Grande`; the sepals for`Anaheim` are slightly larger than for the comparison cultivars. Eachprimary flower has 5-7 petals. The calyx for `Anaheim` is usually evenwith the shoulder of the fruit, but is occasionally slightly indented.The primary fruit shape for `Anaheim` is very symmetrical and conic,with secondary fruit usually similar in shape. External fruit color for`Anaheim` is lighter and substantially more orange than `Chandler` and`Oso Grande`, and the fruit is somewhat less glossy than fruit of`Chandler`; internal fruit color for `Anaheim` is lighter than for`Chandler` and darker than for `Oso Grande`. Achenes vary from yellow tolight red, and are slightly extruded.

`Anaheim` has been tested under a variety of cultural regimes, andoptimal performance is obtained when nursery treatments, pre-plantchilling regimes, plant densities, and nutritional programs similar tothose that optimize performance for `Chandler` are used. In general,`Anaheim` is more adapted to early-season planting with lesssupplemental chilling than `Chandler`.

`Anaheim` has slightly smaller average fruit size and yields than`Chandler` or `Oso Grande` (Table 4). `Anaheim` is similar to `Chandler`and `Oso Grande` in its production pattern, although it produces betterquality fruit late in the production season than either comparisoncultivar (with conventional winter planting). Commerical appearance andfirmness ratings have been better than those for `Chandler`. Fruitfirmness for `Anaheim` is about equal to that for `Oso Grande`.Subjectively, `Anaheim` has very good flavor, somewhat less aromaticthan `Chandler`, somewhat less sweet but with better acid balance than`Oso Grande`. The fruit will be outstanding for both fresh market andprocessing, due to its firm flesh and even internal color and will beuseful for home garden purposes.

                  TABLE 3                                                         ______________________________________                                        Flower and fruit characters for                                               `Anaheim`, `Chandler`, and `Oso Grande`.                                                  Cultivar                                                          Character     `Anaheim` `Chandler`                                                                              `Oso Grande`                                ______________________________________                                        # petals                                                                      mean           6.3       6.6       5.0                                        range         5-7       6-8       5-5                                         Flower position                                                                             exposed   even/     exposed                                     (relative to foliage)   exposed                                               Calyx diam. (mm)                                                              mean          49.2      47.7      34.1                                        range         44-55     45-53     27-38                                       Corolla diam. (mm)                                                            mean          35.0      39.3      32.2                                        range         30-40     36-46     27-41                                       Fruit shape                                                                   length/width   1.02      1.33      1.06                                       ratio                                                                         subjective    conic     flat conic                                                                              blocky/conic                                Calyx position                                                                              even/slight                                                                             even/slight                                                                             even/slight                                               indent    neck      indent                                      Seed position extruded  even/slight                                                                             even                                                                indent                                                Fruit color (CIELAB)                                                          external                                                                      L*            26.6      23.6      22.4                                        a*            36.1      38.5      31.2                                        b*            21.3      14.8      17.2                                        internal                                                                      L*            48.4      46.2      54.1                                        a*            36.6      39.1      30.4                                        b*            28.1      29.4      22.7                                        ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE 4                                                         ______________________________________                                        Performance for selection `Anaheim` compared with `Oso Grande`                and `Chandler` at the South Coast Research and Extension Center               in 1991. All plants were dug from the South Coast nursery on                  October 1 and planted October 2 (68"/4-row beds, 23,061                       plants/A, 100 g/plant = 425 Crates/A).                                                 Yield    Total           Appear-                                              To 4/1   Yield    Size   ance   Firm-                                         (g/plant)                                                                              (g/plant)                                                                              (g/fruit)                                                                            Score  ness                                 ______________________________________                                        `Anaheim`                                                                              447      1,391    22.4   4.2    4.6                                  `Chandler`                                                                             463      1,738    23.3   3.9    4.0                                  `Oso Grande`                                                                           530      1,675    25.0   3.8    4.9                                  ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE 5                                                         ______________________________________                                        Munsell color classification for leaf and fruit characters.                   Munsell                  Munsell                                              Leaf Color Classes       Fruit Color Classes                                         Upper      Lower                                                       Item   (Adaxial)  (Abaxial)  External                                                                              Internal                                 ______________________________________                                        Chandler                                                                             5GY 4/3    5GY 5/6    5R 5/13 7R 5/13                                         5GY 5/6               5R 4/12                                          Oso    5GY 4/3    5GY 5/6    5R 5/13 7.5R 7/9                                        5GY 3/2    7.5GY 6/8  7.5R 5/13                                                                             7.5R 6/12                                Anaheim                                                                              7.5GY 5/7  5G 7.8     10R 6/12                                                                              5R 8/6                                          7.5GY 6/8  5G 6/8     10R 5/11                                                                              5R 7/9                                          7.5GY 4/4                                                              ______________________________________                                    

We claim:
 1. The new and distinct variety of strawberry plantillustrated and described and having the characteristics aboveenumerated.